2012's Top Performing Dividend ETFs

The ex-U.S. Dividend ETFs are the Big Winners for 2012

Dividend ETFs have enjoyed a spate of popularity these last few years as investors seek the cushion of yield and some diversity in their portfolios. There are now about 50 dividend ETFs available in many, many variations, based on equity indexes that may include geographic region, country specific, market cap weighted, fundamentally weighted, yield weighted, and other various yield and/or income methodologies. Last year, as much of the world fretted over regional fiscal woes, Europe, the emerging markets, and other non-U.S. stock funds came clawing back to life in a big way. Let's examine the top 2012 dividend ETFs as they reveal some regional market gains - helped along of course with dividends. Note that WisdomTree has seven of the top 10 funds. WisdomTree has been a leader in the dividend ETF niche, especially with the non-U.S equity varieties. Many of these funds are rather unique offerings, having little or no competition such as (NYSEARCA:AUSE), (NASDAQ:GULF), (NYSEARCA:DOO), and others.

Closer to home: U.S. centric equity Dividend ETFs

Some top performing funds with holdings of primarily U.S. stocks also made a respectable showing as well.(NYSEARCA:CVY), the Guggenheim Multi-Asset Income was the top U.S. equity dividend ETF with a return of 13.2%. To be fair, this ETF has holdings which include ADR's which surely goosed up its performance by having exposure to those non U.S.-based holdings that trade on the domestic U.S. exchanges.(NYSEARCA:DTD), the WisdomTree Total Dividend fund, gained a solid 13.1%.(NYSEARCA:VYM), Vanguard's High Dividend Yield Index ETF gained a respectable 12.7%. And finally, the WisdomTree Large-Cap Dividend (NYSEARCA:DLN) secured a solid 2012 total return of around 12.7%.

Popular dividend ETFs with large market-caps such as the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (NYSEARCA:DVY) sported a 10.5% return; Vanguard's Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEARCA:VIG) a healthy 11.6% and (NYSEARCA:SDY), the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF -finished with a solid 11.6% gain for 2012.

Summary:

With those healthy 2012 gains made mainly by international, emerging market and other non-U.S. index based funds; it's doubtful large gains will continue for 2013. It's unusual to have back to back outsized gains for most funds, especially of a niche variety. Perhaps the U.S. broad-based equity counterparts can again have some respectable and even larger returns for 2013.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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